Weft-clamping device for looms.



' A. BALDWIN.

v WEPT GLAMPING DEVICE FOR LOOMS.' y*

' APPLIGATION FILED 999,194,190?.

x 9 u. f LQ f3 l I 13999111199 Jan.' 19, 1909.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

1HE NoRRls Psrsks cn.. wAsnmaroN. n. u.

A. BALDWIN.

vWFFT GLAMPING DEVICE FOR LOOMS. I

APPLICATION FILED AUG. 19, 1907.

Patented Jan. 19, v1909.

. 2 SHEETS-SHEET 2 nu: naRRls Pxfxluce., wsu/mmm, D. c.

UNlTED STARS PATENT FIQFA.

ALFRED BALDWIN, OF GOFFS FALLS, NEW HAMPSHIRE, ASSIGNOR TO DAPER COMPANY, OF HOPEDALE, MASSACHUSETTS, A CORPORATION OF MAINE.

WEFT-CLAMPING- DEVICE FOR LOOMS.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Jan. 19, 1909.

Application le. August 19, 1907. Serial No. 389,128.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that l, ALFRED BALDWIN, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of Goffs Falls, in the county of Hillsboro and State of New Hampshire, have invented an improvement in weft-Clamping Devices for Looms, of which the following description, in connection with the accompanying drawing,

is a specification, like letters on the drawing i representing like parts.

This invention in looms has for its object to provide means to prevent slack in the 'hlling laid in the shed until after the warp has been closed on the filling.

VIn fancy looms, as now commonly constructed a shuttle thrown from a shuttle-box at one end of the lay enters theV opposite box, contacts with the picker therein, and. rebounds before the shed is closed on the filling left therein, the rebound of the shuttle causing slack in that part of the filling in the shed, and as a result thereof the slack filling when beaten in to the fell by the reed nresents lnnks or loops which show in the fabric and render the same imperfect. So also, due to changes of speed of the loom, as when starting off sometimes at a higher speed than usual, the shuttle is thrown more rapidly as the s eed increases and the impact of the shutt e against the picker causes a more sudden rebound which results in formation of slack filling. This uneven rebounding of the shuttle due to its speed as Well as to its varying weight caused by the delivery of part of its filling, is noticeable in the fabric being woven, most noticeable when the filling differs in color from the warp, and the fabric produced is designated as lrowey, or in other words the filling makes cross-streaks in the fabric. So also in looms as now commonly made, Where a center feeler carried by the lay feels for the filling in the shed, the feeler commonly descends on the filling before the shed is closed thereon, and after the shuttle has entered a box, struck a picker,

and has had a chance to rebound.

ln my studies l have aimed to so construct a loom that the filling will not show kinks or loops, and also to avoid rowey streaks in the fabric due to variations in speed of Weaving. l ascertain by eX eriment that these objections common to al looms known to me prior to my invention may be obviated by clamping the filling laid in the shed while yet under the tension of the shuttle then in its flight into its box, and at the same time closing the shed on the clamped filling.

Consequently my invention consists broadly in mounting on the lay a clamp, and combining therewith means to operate said. clamp that it will descend on the filling anywhere between the selvage and the shuttleboxes, said clamps clamping the filling on the raceway of the lay anywhere between the selvage and the shuttle-boxes, while the shuttle is on its way out of the shed into a sliuttle-boX, this being done While the lay is being moved forwardly toward the breast beam, thewarp not being closed onto the filling laid in the shed until after the clamp has been moved to clamp the filling.

l have made provision to release the filling during the last part of the forward beat of the lay, and to again close the clamp directly on the lay, so that as the lay is moved backwardly away from the breast-beam the clamp cannot possibly catch a filling eX- tended from the selvage to a shuttle in the shuttle-box, and as the lay approaches its back center prior to forming the shed and throwing the shuttle, the clamp is lifted so that the filling will be laid on the raceway, and thereafter the clamp is lowered to clamp the filling as stated.

Fartially raising the clamp to release the 'lling thread last laid in the shed and then closing the clamp again on to the lay just prior to the backward movement of the lay enables me to use my invention in connection with drop or shifting shuttle boxes.

My invention is more particularly applicable to fancy looms using drop shuttleboXes and for weaving woolen cloth, the drop shuttleboXes being at opposite ends of the lay, and it will be obvious with this class of loom that two clamps are necessitated, one outside each selvafre and between the selvage and its adjacent shuttle-box.

In practice the selvage may be acted upon by a usual temple and any usual form of lling-fork carried by the lay may be used.

Figure 1, in front elevation, shows part of the lay of a loom, and drop shuttle boXes of usual construction at each end thereof, together with two filling clamps embodying my invention; Fig. 2 is a top or plan view of the parte shown in Fig. l together with the breast earn; Fig. 3 is a section of Fig. 2 in the line showing the lay at the eXtreme back stroke, the shuttle having been thrown through the shed to leave a shot of 'lilling, the clamp being shown as elevated, the shuttle not however having completed its iiight; Fig. 4 is a view similar to Fig. 3 but with the lay started forwardly toward the breastbeam, the clamp having been moved to clamp the 'filling on the raceway of the lay; Fig. 5 is a detail showing the lay substantially in its forward position when the clamp is again lifted automatically to release the filling part of which has been beaten into the fell of the cloth; Fig. 6 is a detail chie'lly to show the auxiliary lifter, and Fig. 7 is an enlarged detail of the arm 53 and its pivotally mounted, bent end 2.

Referring to the drawings, A represents part of a loom frame, A the breast-beam, A2 the lay moved in any usual way, A3 the reed, A4 usual drop shuttle-boxes, at the opposite ends of the lay according to the number of shuttles it is desired to use in weaving, said shuttle-boxes being moved in any usual manner and being controlled as to their time of movement by any usual pattern-surface; and A5, A@ represent usual harness frames having usual heddles to receive and move the warp threads c in the formation of sheds in the warps in any desired order after the manner of any usual closed or open shed looms.

"The shed-forming mechanism may be of any usual construction common to looms, and hence need not be herein fully shown, it being understood that the shed is opened during the backward stroke of the lay, that a shuttle B at the level of the raceway of the lay and having the filling to be laid in the shed, may be thrown across the raceway and through the shed, and that as the lay is moved forward toward the breast-beam and prior to the completion of the iiight of the shuttle into the shuttle-box to meet the usual picker the clamp will be moved to clamp the filling.

To the bottom of the lay I connect a stand b having a stud t that serves as a ivot for a block b2 that receives the shank of an arm 53 having its front end 2 next the breast-beam bent at an angle to said arm, that it may operate as hereinafter described. The end 2 of said arm is pivoted at 3 to the end ofthe arm b3 and a spring 4, see Figs. 2 and 7 acts normally tokeep a small shoulder of said front end against the inner side of the arm 53, said spring yielding should the end 2 catch upon any object during the backward movement of the lay from the breast-beam that otherwise might break the arm or some other part of the loom. The shank of arm Z13 is adjusted Vby or through a screw b4.

Theblock b2 receives the end of a link t8 jointed to an arm t fixed as herein shown to a hollow rock-shaft 51 sustained in suitable bearings c, c connected to the lay, said shaft as shownhaving two collars c3, et, connected therewith and abutting said bearing to restrain longitudinal movement of the shaft 510 in said bearing. The shaft 510 is also extended through a bearing c2, and'is surrounded by a spring c5 connected at one end with 70 the bearing c and at the other end with theV bearing c2, said spring acting normally to turn said rock-shaft in the direction of the arrow Fig. 3, the direction in which it is moved when the clamps to be described are lowered or moved toa/ard the raceway of the lay.

The rock-shaft referred to is hollow, and receives in its opposite ends two shafts d, d, each siiaft being adjustable in said rockshaft and held in its adjusted position by a like set screw 5.

Each oi the shafts d, d', has secured to it in any suitable manner two like blocks 7 to which is secured by like set screws c like fillingclamps c7. T he outside ends of the shafts d, d enter respectively like bearings cl2 having feet d3 that receive each a screw 8 that is extended through a slot in an adjusting plate d* secured to the front of the lay by screws d5.

By loosening the screws 5 and 8 the shafts d, e and their bearings may be adjusted toward and from the longitudinal center of the loom to position the clamps correctly to accommodate fabrics of different vwidths.

Each bearing d2 has a connected filling rest l0, provided at its end next the breastbeam with a finger or point 12.

In operation the lling extended from the selvage to the different shuttles in the shut- 100 tie-box contacts at times with the upper side of the rest and is supported thereby. To the inner side of the breast-beam next the lay l attach by lag screws or bolts e a strand d,

having adjustably connected to it by screws V eX the upturned end e2 of a bar e3 provided at its inner end toward the lay with a shoe c4 connected adjustably there 7ith by a setscrew e5, the upper side of said shoe receiving against it and at times sustaining the projecting portion 2 of the bar b3 as will be described, said arm through the link bs turning theV rock-shaft Z110 in such direction as to raise the clamps c7, 07X, from the raceway of the lay prior to throwing the shuttle and laying the lilling in the sheo. and on the raceway of the lay. 'lhe projection 2 of the arm b3 is borne normally against the shoe e4. rlhe arm e3 has connected with it at one side a dog c pivoted on a stud e7 of a plate es at- 120 tached to said arm by a screw e, said screw extending through a slot of an adjustable stop el", and a second stop cl2 also held in adjusted position by suitable screw 10X, said stops controlling the extent of movement of the stop c and arresting the stop in its twov extreme positions. To the opposite side of the arm e3 on a stud f, see Fig. 6, l pivot loosely an auxiliary clamp-lifter f', having a right-angled lip f3, 130

the lower end of which rests normally on the upper edge of the arm e3, but said lifter may be turned on the pivot f for a distance limited by the pin-13 extended from said arm into a slot 14. The lifter occupies normally the inclined position shown in the drawings, the projection 2 of the arm b3, as the lay is moved forward, passing off the end of said shoe e4 and being depressed by spring e5, and in its movement toward the breast-beam strikes the notched end of the dog e6, as shown by full lines Fig. 4, engages the stop, turning the dog on its pivot e7 thus lifting the portion 2 of an arm t3 so that its free end acts on the underside of the lip f3, said arm passing between the lower end of said lip and the bar e3. The raising of the arm b3 by said dog in moving from the position Fig. 4 into the position Fig. 5 serves to slightly raise the clamps to thereby release the lling, crossing the selvage and leading to the last shuttle thrown, as the lay is completing its forward stroke, the shuttle having fully entered the shuttle-box and the shed having been closed on the filling, this raising of the clamp being effected to release the filling before the completion of the forward stroke of the lay, and while the projection 2 is yet on the dog e. After the proj ection passes the front end of the lip of the auxiliary clamp-lifter the dog is further turned until it meets the stop elo and is arrested, said projection passing from the shoulder of the dog and striking the upper side of the arm e3, said projection descending and striking said arm through the action of the spring c5 which when released immediately turns the rock-shaft Z910 to cause the clamps to descend upon the lay prior to the backward movement of the lay. As the lay starts backwardly, the projection 2 meets the lower end of the inclined lip of the auxiliary clamp-lifter, and rides upwardly over said lifter raising the clamp, as shown in Fig. 3, turning the lifter about its pivot f, causing the upper end of the lip to meet the free end of the shoe c4, thus making a bridge for the passage of said projection 2 onto the shoe e4, said projection passing onto the upper edge of the shoe, which serves t) retain the rockshaft in such position as to maintain the clamps in their elevated positions as the lay completes its back stroke. The lay having completed its back stroke, and the shed having been opened in usual manner, the shuttle is thrown from one of the boxes through the shed to an opposite box, and as the filling is laid in the shed, the lay in its forward movement carries the projection 2 over the top of the shoe e4 to the end thereof, so that about as the lay has nearly arrived at or about the middle of its forward stroke, said projection under the action of the spring c5 drops from said shoe and immediately the clamps descend on the filling laid in the shed, said clamps descending on the filling while the same is yet held stretched or under tension and before the shuttle has completed its stroke in the shuttle-box and struck the usual picker. After the clamps descend and meet the filling the shed is closed in usual manner on the filling so that the reed in its further forward movement beats the filling into the fell of the cloth. Now, as stated, when used with drop shuttle boxes the clamps must be lifted to release the filling which is done after the projection 2 of the arm meets the dog e6 and the clamp must again desc end on the lay as the lay completes its forward stroke, and must be held there temporarily while the lay starts back so that the end of the clamps may pass under any filling leading from the selvage to any shuttle, otherwise a filling might possibly get under the clam After the lay has been moved backwardly for such a distance as to prevent any possibility of the end of the clamp catching a filling, then the clamp is raised, as described, and maintained in its elevated position while the shuttle is thrown across the open shed, and as the lay again comes forwardly the clamp is depressed instantly at the proper time to clamp the filling while in its stretched position in the shed and prior to closing the shed onto and beating the fillin into the fell.

Illt will lie understood that should the bent portion 2 of arm t3 in the backward movement of the lay be obstructed, said arm may yield.

I have illustrated my invention in connection with drop shuttle-boxes at the end of the lay, but it will be understood that if my filling clamp is used on an ordinary loom, the clamp will lue raised only at the back stroke of the lay preparatory to throwing the shuttle through the shed.

I provide the upper side of the race of the lay with a friction device 40 preferably of felt, cloth, leather or india rubber immediately at the point where the clamp descends upon the lay.

Having described my invention what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is 1. In a loom, a lay, clamps carried thereby, and means located entirely below the plane of the shuttle raceway to actuate the said clamps to clamp the filling crossing the selvage prior to the completion of the liight of the shuttle.

2. In a loom, a filling clamp carried by the lay, means located entirely below the plane of the shuttle raceway to move the same to clamp the stretched filling on the raceway of the lay during part of the forward movement of the lay, and means located entirely below the plane of the shuttle raceway for moving said clamp to release the filling prior to the completion of the forward stroke of the lay.

3. In aloom, a lay, a filling-clamp carried thereby, means for moving the same to lower said clamp j ust before the commencement of the backward movement of the lay so that the clamp may pass under filling threads leading from the selvage, and means for then raising-the clamp during the .latter art of the backward movement of the lay that the filling may be laid on the raceway.

4. In a loom, a lay, a filling clamp carried thereby, means for raising said clamp during the latter part of the forward beat of the lay to release the lling, and then to lower said clamp just before the commencement of the backward movement of the lay so as to prevent the clamp from catching in the filling, and means for raising the clamp during the latter part of the backward movement of the lay so that the illing may be laid on the raceway.

5. In a loom, a lay, a filling clamp carried thereby, and means for moving the same to raise said clamp during the back stroke of the lay that the iilling may be laid on the raceway of the lay, said means causing the clamp to descend on the filling on the lay during the forward stroke of the lay, and means Vfor again raising the clamp prior to the .-c-ompletionof the forward strolerof the-Y lay to release the filling.

6. Ina'loom, a lay, a rock-shaft, bearings therefor carried by the lay, a shaft at each end of said rock-shaft, means to connect said elo, 3 4e'.

shafts, and a clamp carried by each block,

the adjustment of the shafts in the rocks shaft providing for weaving fabrics of different Widths.

7. In a fancy loom having a lay and a se ries of drop shuttle-boxes at each end of the lay, a rock-shaft carried by the lay, two clamps operatively connected with said rockshaft, and means to turn said rock-shaft to cause said clamps to approach the lay after a iilling has been laid in the shed and prior to the completion of the flight of the shuttle.

8. In a loom, a lay therefor carried by a rock-shaft, bearings therefor carried by theV lay, a clamp, means for connecting said clamp with said rock-shaft, a stand connected with the under side of the lay, a block pivoted in said stand, an arm sustained by said block, said arm having a jointed spring-sustained projection, means connecting said block with said rock-shaft, a dog adapted to be turned by the projection of said arm, and means for sustaining said dog.

In testimony whereof, I have signed my name to this specification, inthe presence of two subscribing witnesses.

ALFRED, BALDI/VIN Witnesses:

M. F. SULLIVAN, JOHN W. CENTER. 

